The Fan Blog : Eklund on Flyers: Kolosov sent to Lehigh

When you're supposedly in a rebuild but your top three prospects are projected to be a "3-5 defenseman" and a "middle-sixer" and a "top-six D":

https://www.nytimes.com/a...-prospects-rankings-2025/

Finally Briere grew some cojones.

Finally Briere grew some cojones.
- mickel25

?

?
- mikeyo27

Sent Kolosov down.

In depth article

Rangers have been playing better, steam roller the Sens, could the wheels come off for the Flyers tonight? You can only play this hard for so long, am I right ?

When you're supposedly in a rebuild but your top three prospects are projected to be a "3-5 defenseman" and a "middle-sixer" and a "top-six D":

https://www.nytimes.com/a...-prospects-rankings-2025/




- Tomahawk

And 2 points out of the wild card. Mediocrities dream scenario.

When you're supposedly in a rebuild but your top three prospects are projected to be a "3-5 defenseman" and a "middle-sixer" and a "top-six D":
- Tomahawk

So let me understand this. In your delusional world, rebuilding a hockey organization takes less than 2 years? Please already .. just stop the nonsense!

And 2 points out of the wild card. Mediocrities dream scenario.
- mickel25

Get used to it, the Flyers are going to make the playoffs this season. There will be no tanking.

Finally Briere grew some cojones.
- mickel25

Yes! This needed to happen. Happy to see Richard back up here, he was doing well for the Flyers before he got sent down and then got hurt.

In depth article

Rangers have been playing better, steam roller the Sens, could the wheels come off for the Flyers tonight? You can only play this hard for so long, am I right ?
- wcorvette

No you're not right. The Flyers play hard, that's what professional atheletes on professional teams do. So does every other team. The Flyers play with a specific structure, and there is no reason why they can't continue to play that way for as long as it takes.

Get used to it, the Flyers are going to make the playoffs this season. There will be no tanking.
- jd250

JD250's dream scenario.

So let me understand this. In your delusional world, rebuilding a hockey organization takes less than 2 years? Please already .. just stop the nonsense!
- jd250

How long has Flahr been employed and running the draft?

Get used to it, the Flyers are going to make the playoffs this season. There will be no tanking.
- jd250

Correct. What is the actual plan? They are not rebuilding. They are not making any impulse moves to try to make the playoffs. They are not making any moves to bring in young players to help now and in the future.

What are they doing? Break it down for me what the plan is to actually compete for a cup. Do you have a date on when you think this may happen?

They will not make the playoffs.

How long has Flahr been employed and running the draft?
- furio16

Since 2019 when Fletcher was hired, and he and his staff has done a good job IMO.

JD250's dream scenario.
- mickel25

Not my dream scenario at all. I am all for tanking if, IF, there is group of players at the top of the draft worth tanking for. The 2015 draft was such a draft, so was the 2023 draft. Not every draft class is worth tanking for. This 2025 class is not worth tanking for.

Since 2019 when Fletcher was hired, and he and his staff has done a good job IMO.
- jd250

Done a good job based on what? The prospect pool is shallow. Nothing elite at the top.

That doesn't scream good job to me. Still have to let it play out though not all that impressed so far.

Not my dream scenario at all. I am all for tanking if, IF, there is group of players at the top of the draft worth tanking for. The 2015 draft was such a draft, so was the 2023 draft. Not every draft class is worth tanking for. This 2025 class is not worth tanking for.
- jd250

Wasn't this the draft that was going to alter the franchise? The draft the GM and POHO were looikng forward to for a long time.

Phantoms in 5th place out of 8 teams in the division. Have given up most goals in the division(4th most overall). Middle for goals scored division.

Samu hasn’t had a goal since 11/17 and 8 assists 19 games.

Rizzo scoreless first 11 games coming off appendix surgery. 9 points last 13 games after getting back into game shape.

Desnoyer 7 points last 9 games.

Correct. What is the actual plan? They are not rebuilding. They are not making any impulse moves to try to make the playoffs. They are not making any moves to bring in young players to help now and in the future.

What are they doing? Break it down for me what the plan is to actually compete for a cup. Do you have a date on when you think this may happen?

They will not make the playoffs.
- furio16

Everyone keeps saying its not a rebuild, but then they just describe tanking. The Flyers are not tanking. They are not going to jettison players for pennies on the dollar just for the hell of it. For example, as well as Risto is playing, the most the Flyers could expect to get in return from a deadline trade is another late 1st round pick. Is that more valuable that what Risto is giving this team right now? Any rational and knowledgable person not named MJL would answer No, its not. All it would do is open up another hole in the roster that the Flyers would eventually need to fill. How about trading Laughton and his $3M salary. The most the Flyers will get for Laughton is a 2nd or 3rd round pick. Is that worth it? No! So let's trade Frosty. What will the Flyers realstically get for him, maybe a 3rd round pick? Again, given the lack of centers on this team is that worth it right now? No!

The Flyers right now do not have the cap space to bring in any players. The Flyers also are not making impulse moves for short term gains which is exactly what we have said we wanted as a fanbase. The Flyers are developing their younger players to see what they got but also to make them more valuable assets down the road. The Flyers are also bringing in young players and trying to restock their farm system, with 6 picks in the first two rounds of this draft. They already have Michkov, Bonk, Barkey, Luchanko and Drysdale, plus Andrae and Grans ready in the AHL.

I think we just need to see what happens before this year's draft, because that is where I think the Flyers can make some significant moves. The Flyers will have about $5M of dead money coming off their books after this season, plus the $4M from RYJO which should be settled by then. However the Flyers have 4 RFAs that they need to extend or make a decision on, plus TKs new contract kick's in, so there still will not be a lot of cap space to play with next season.

Phantoms in 5th place out of 8 teams in the division. Have given up most goals in the division(4th most overall). Middle for goals scored division.

Samu hasn’t had a goal since 11/17 and 8 assists 19 games.

Rizzo scoreless first 11 games coming off appendix surgery. 9 points last 13 games after getting back into game shape.

Desnoyer 7 points last 9 games.
- furio16

The Phantoms desperately need goaltending, so why it took so long for the Flyers to send Kolosov down is beyond me. Kolosov will stabilize that team and allow the other players to play more freely and actually develop.

Wasn't this the draft that was going to alter the franchise? The draft the GM and POHO were looikng forward to for a long time.
- furio16

Apparently, but from everything I have heard and read, this is not a draft with oodles of elite talent.

Done a good job based on what? The prospect pool is shallow. Nothing elite at the top.

That doesn't scream good job to me. Still have to let it play out though not all that impressed so far.
- furio16

The Flyers have been building their prospect pool back up. They have made some good picks over the past few drafts. It takes time for players to develop. Remember these kids that are drafted are 17 and 18 years old! Just need some patience. But since 2019 the Flyers have drafted and developed Brink, York, Foerster, Andrae, Kolosov, Gauthier -> Drysdale, Michkov, Bonk, Barkey, Bjarnason, Zavragin (19 years old and chewing up the KHL), and most recently Luchanko, Berglund and Gill. These are very good prospects and some are already very good NHL players.

Get used to it, the Flyers are going to make the playoffs this season. There will be no tanking.
- jd250

The Flyers have a 10% chance of making the playoffs.

Everyone keeps saying its not a rebuild, but then they just describe tanking. The Flyers are not tanking. They are not going to jettison players for pennies on the dollar just for the hell of it. For example, as well as Risto is playing, the most the Flyers could expect to get in return from a deadline trade is another late 1st round pick. Is that more valuable that what Risto is giving this team right now? Any rational and knowledgable person not named MJL would answer No, its not. All it would do is open up another hole in the roster that the Flyers would eventually need to fill. How about trading Laughton and his $3M salary. The most the Flyers will get for Laughton is a 2nd or 3rd round pick. Is that worth it? No! So let's trade Frosty. What will the Flyers realstically get for him, maybe a 3rd round pick? Again, given the lack of centers on this team is that worth it right now? No!

The Flyers right now do not have the cap space to bring in any players. The Flyers also are not making impulse moves for short term gains which is exactly what we have said we wanted as a fanbase. The Flyers are developing their younger players to see what they got but also to make them more valuable assets down the road. The Flyers are also bringing in young players and trying to restock their farm system, with 6 picks in the first two rounds of this draft. They already have Michkov, Bonk, Barkey, Luchanko and Drysdale, plus Andrae and Grans ready in the AHL.

I think we just need to see what happens before this year's draft, because that is where I think the Flyers can make some significant moves. The Flyers will have about $5M of dead money coming off their books after this season, plus the $4M from RYJO which should be settled by then. However the Flyers have 4 RFAs that they need to extend or make a decision on, plus TKs new contract kick's in, so there still will not be a lot of cap space to play with next season.
- jd250

I do not recall anyone say trade players for pennies on the dollar. Any examples? You need to realize the Flyers do not have many players with a lot of value. The ones that do they clearly will not move.

Is it about the future or right now? For arguments sake if they can get a late 1st for Risto you take it no questions asked. If they are rebuilding of course. This team is going nowhere with or without Risto. Apply the same logic to Laughton. When they re-sign both Laughton and Risto what will your take be then? If Frost doesn’t factor into the future, you move him.

All those players you mention are not needle moves nor are they guaranteed to even make to the NHL as productive players. I do not get all excited nor do I see a path to cup contending team seeing how they are running the team.

They are a capped team treading water. That is not a good spot.